chapter 28

Given the issues we'd been having in the company lately, from software problems to interns being poached by our rivals, the last thing I wanted was to hear from Michael Shaw himself.

Especially because my father had a way of making me feel worse about everything.

I stared at the phone until it stopped ringing.

A few moments later, it started again, and I squinted at it. Reluctantly, I set the phone down on the counter and put him on speaker. "Hello."

"I was beginning to think you weren't going to answer."

"I was busy," I replied before shifting from one foot to the other. "Is everything okay?"

"I heard Carla is back in town," my father said after a brief pause. "I never did understand why the two of you broke things off, especially when you know how important an alliance between the two of you is."

"Carla and I aren't a good match, dad. We want very different things. I told you this already."

My father scoffed. "Nonsense. The two of you just needed time to adapt to each other. These t